The Emperor
THE EMPEROR, Part 2. By Georg Ebers Volume 9. CHAPTER XIV. The entertainment which Verus was giving on the eve of his birthday seemed to be far from drawing to an end, even at the beginning of the third hour of the morning. Besides the illustrious and learned Romans who had accompanied the Emperor to Alexandria, the most famous and distinguished Alexandrians had also been invited by the praetor. The splendid banquet had long been ended, but jar after jar of mixed wine was still being filled and emptied. Verus himself had been unanimously chosen as the king and leader of the feast. Crowned with a rich garland, he reclined on a couch strewn with rose-leaves, an invention of his own, and formed of four cushions piled one on another. A curtain of transparent gauze screened him from flies and gnats, and a tightly-woven mat of lilies and other flowers covered his feet and exhaled sweet odors
ALLMERS. No, no; let me stay where I am.
RITA. Then I will stay with you, Alfred.
ALLMERS. Very well; do so, then. You remain too, Asta.
ASTA. [Whispers to BORGHEIM.] Let us leave them alone!
BORGHEIM. [With a glance of comprehension.] Miss Allmers, shall we
go a little further--along the shore? For the very last time?
ASTA. [Taking her umbrella.] Yes, come. Let us go a little further.
[ASTA and BORGHEIM go out together behind the boat-shed. ALLMERS
wanders about for a little. Then he seats himself on a stone under
the trees on the left.]
RITA. [Comes up and stands before him, her hands folded and hanging
down.] Can you think the thought, Alfred--that we have lost Eyolf?
ALLMERS. [Looking sadly at the ground.] We must accustom ourselves
to think it.
RITA. I cannot. I cannot. And then that horrible sight that will
haunt me all my life long.
THE EMPEROR, Part 2. By Georg Ebers Volume 9. CHAPTER XIV. The entertainment which Verus was giving on the eve of his birthday seemed to be far from drawing to an end, even at the beginning of the third hour of the morning. Besides the illustrious and learned Romans who had accompanied the Emperor to Alexandria, the most famous and distinguished Alexandrians had also been invited by the praetor. The splendid banquet had long been ended, but jar after jar of mixed wine was still being filled and emptied. Verus himself had been unanimously chosen as the king and leader of the feast. Crowned with a rich garland, he reclined on a couch strewn with rose-leaves, an invention of his own, and formed of four cushions piled one on another. A curtain of transparent gauze screened him from flies and gnats, and a tightly-woven mat of lilies and other flowers covered his feet and exhaled sweet odors